The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

I have led a more virtuous life than I intended, or thought I was leading.  When I was young I thought I was vicious:  now I know that I was not and that my unconscious knowledge was sounder than my conscious.  I regret some things that I have done, but not many.  I regret that so many should think I did much which I never did, and should know of what I did in so garbled and distorted a fashion as to have done me much mischief.  But if things were known as they actually happened, I believe I should have less to be ashamed of than a good many of my neighbours—­and less also to be proud of.